Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-04-29
The Tilden Election Law.

The Tilden Election Law.
The one point which Gen. Bradley L.
johnson announces in his speech at Fred
erick as the aim and purpose and justifi-
cation of the crusade under the banner of
reform which Gov. Hamilton and himself
have endeavored to set on foot in antici-
patton OF the campaign of this fall, is the
choice of Legislature favorable to the
enactment of law similar to that now in
operation ir the State of New York which
is known as the ''Tilden Election Law"
He urges that such law is the only agen
cy through which the purity of the ballot
box in Baltimore city can be attained and
maintained, and therefore he claims that
this one point is sufficient justification
for the round of renewed agitation which
the Ex-Governor and himself are eldea-
voring to inaugurate.
Now Gen. johnson is entitled to the
credit of having introduced new depar-
ture into the style and method of the Gus
tomary harangue of the Maryland reform
er, In that he announces some certain
measure as the purpose and justification
of crusade. The custom heretofore has
been to indulge in numerous vague, indie
finite and sweeping charges against the
regularly constituted leaders OF the Dem
ocratic party and the methods and prac-
tices of party management, without point
ing out any practical remedy for the al
legged evils, except the inferential one
that the substitution of the vlrtuous re-
fern leaders for the regular party leaders
would accomplish the desired end.
.Perceiying the infirmity of this method
of agitation and how heartily eired and
disgusted the Democratic masses have be-
come with it, the gallant General plants
himself on the Tilden election law as the
shibboleth of the new crusade. By the
Tilden election law he is willing to stand
or fall. Upon this rock we will plant our
banner and the ''boys" and the ''bosses"
shall not prevail against i. The counties
are.asked to elect Legislature pledged to
the passage of the Tilden election law as
a means of correcting election irregulari
ties in Baltimore city. Aud the Governor
and the General have undertaken to ex-
plain to he people the necessity of such
action on their part and eulighten them
with regard to their duty in this respect.
Now we believe that, if these impetu-
Gus reformers will only cool their heads a
little and take little time for reflection,
they will see that the new ground upon
which they have drawn up their imagin-
ary forces is wholly unteRable. The Til
den election law is no doubt wise and
we'll ,vised measure in New York, under
the constitution OF that State but it Is
wholly impracticable In Maryland under
the present constitution of this State =
Tb~ AZ prominent feature of he ii den
Law understand it, and the one up
Oh WBiCn tae reformers chiefly rely for the
correction of the city election frauds, is
the requirement of an entirely new registra
ton Of roters annually. But in the present
constitution OF Msrylani we have pro-
vision for the uniform registration of vo
ters, which has been construed as prohi-
biting the Legislature from requiring "a
new registration of the voters of any por-
tion of the State, without at the same
time providing for the new registration
of the entire voting population through
out the State.
If these statesmen will take time to re-
fleet, therefore, they will see that their
proposition involves a modest request of
the people of the counties to impose upon
themselves an annual new registration,
which is absolutely impracticable and
wholly out Of the question, as the means
of purifying the voting lists of Baltimore
city. There can be no amendment Of the
constitution before the sitting of the Le-
gislature in 1888 and therefore the agita-
tion of the adoption of the Tilden law by
that body is premature, and consequently
futile and inconsiderate.
But there is strong probability that,
before the assembling of the Legislature
of 1890, we will have a new constitution,
in which the provisions regarding the re-
gistration of voters will be so made as to
avoid the mischievous construction refer
red to-. Then the adoption of the Tilden
law In Maryland will be practicable, and
there is little doubt that the Legislature
will then adopt such of its features as are
applicable to our State, giving to Balti-
more city an annual registration of her
voters and such other provisions as will
guard against frauds. Until then al
agitation of the question is idle and out
of place.
Secretary Lamar, in the course of his